Writing

Fiction

A collection of short stories and fragments of larger works that are still in progress.

The Martin Sketches

Martin is the chief protagonist of an in-progress novel. A blind man recently widowed, he has found himself alone in a world that has become unfamiliar.

This is a collection of character sketches working towards that larger work. While in various stages of completion (First Steps and Simon are both more or less self-contained short stories while Martin, Lauren, Meredith and At the Bughouse Bean are intentionally left unfinished), their main purpose was to determine the personality and role of each character within the larger as-yet-untitled work. As a result, there is some overlap in narrative between them, and some characters have changed slightly between drafts.


Street view of downtown Chicago with cars, CTA vehicles and pedestrians

First Steps

Martin is pushed from his comfort zone and rediscovers the world outside.

Silhouette of a hand against dark surface

Simon

A character sketch of Simon, Martin’s enigmatic and rough-edged friend.

Espresso being poured into two small cups

Martin, Lauren, Meredith

An introduction to a few of the other characters who populate the coffee shop Martin begins to frequent.

Coffee beans

At the Bughouse Bean

More time is spent with the regulars at the coffee shop.


Non-Fiction

Foggy Memory

When high expectations (and poor planning) ended a trip as soon as it began.